Metal-casting apparatus



J. C. CROMWELL.

METAL CASTING APPARATUS.

7 APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. I91?- I 1,312,164. RvtentedAug. 5,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR (MIR:

.I. C, CROMWELL.

METAL CASTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. Ian.

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES JOHN G. CROMWJELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHTEO.

METAL-CASTING APPARATUS;

naiaiet.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5, rare.

Application filed June 15, 1917. Serial No. 174,902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN C. CROMWELL,

a citizen or thellnited States, residing at Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ulric, have invented a new and useful Metal-Casting Apparatus, of which the following is a full,

' clear, and enact description', reference being ing apparatus, of the type employed in casting large objects, such as ingots, etc. lln the casting of such objects, it is tound desirable to usea trough or runner system inter1nediate the casting ladle and the mold for the purpose of distributing the flowing stream of metal between a plurality of molds.

-Heretot'ore it has been customary to provide means for attaching the trough .or runner system to the casting ladle itself; but this is in many respects objectionable for various reasons. I

My invention is designed to provide a simple and convenient form of crane mocha-- nisrn for handling the runners or distributing troughs.

The nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to the accompany ing drawings, in which l have shown the preferred embodiment thereof, and which Will now be described, it being premised, however, that various changes can be made inthe details of construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts with out departing from the spirit and scope oil my invention 'as defined in the appended olaims/ ln these drawings the numeral 2 designates a plurality of ingot molds of any Still," able usual character. 3 designates a casting ladle which is suspended in the usual manner from the hoisting drum 4 ot' a crane trolley 5 mounted on a bridge 6 arranged to travel. on overhead tracks. one of which.

shown at "Z'.

The runner system consists out a main trough or runner 8 which is located directly below the pouring nozzle 9 ol the ladle 3,

and from which are suspended, as by linlrs ill, the two auxiliary troughs ll. -Each ol the troughs 11 is shown as having two bottom discharge openings 12, and each is supplied With metal through discharge open logs or nozzles 13 in the main runner 8. lhis system of troughs or runners tor distribute ing the metal to the several molds 2 has heretofore been used, and forms no part of my invention. Heretot'ore, however, it has been usual to suspend these runners from the ladle 3; In accordance with my invention, I provide a platform is adjacent to the casting station and extending parallel with the line of molds 2. On this platform is mounted a car or carriage l5; and on this car or carriage is pivoted a projecting crane arm 16. Mounted in this arm is rotary shaft 17, which at its outer end has secured thereto the main runner 8. The shaft 17 can be rotated to tilt the runners by any suitable means, such as the hand lever 18.

The car or carriage 15 is weighted suiticiently to more than counterbalance the weight oi the crane l6 and of the runner system carried thereby. For the purgose of moving the car or carriage longitudinally on the platform 14 in correspondence with the travel of the'castingladle 3 over the line of molds, any suitable connection between such carriage and the trolley 5 may be provided. ln the drawings l have shown the carriage 15 as having an upwardly projecting member 19 adapted for contact with any suitable depending member E20 oi the trolley, these members being so arranged that as the trolley is moved longitudinally the contact of the member 20with the member 19 will cause the carriage iii to move with the ladle. At the end of a'casting op eration the carriage l5 may be moved baclr to its original position either by hand, or it may be provided with any suitable motive means. v

21 designates any usual or suitable stopper actuating mechanism for the ladle and 22 designates handles or levers by means of which the auxiliary runners ll may he tilted independently of the runner t for the purpose of further controlling the flow and distribution of the hot metal.

lhe advantages at my invention will apparentto those skilled in the art, since it provides runner supporting and operating means which are independent ot the casting ladle, and therelore do not require to be eonnected to and disconnected therelroin with each changsge in ladlea 'llhe mechanism is Ittlti are simple in character and, by causing it to move in unison with the casting ladle, requires no attention on the part of the operator, except that usually required to tilt the runners for controlling the'flow and distribution of the hot metal.

I claim: I

1. The combination with a movable casting ladle of the bottom-pour type, of a system of runners or troughs, having a plurality of discharges, and a car or carriage upon which said runners or troughs are supported, said car or carriage movable both with and independently of the casting ladle; substantially as described.-

2: The combination with a casting ladle of the bottom-pour type, of distributing runners or troughs arranged below the nozzle of the ladle and ha ing a plurality of discharges arranged to simultaneously deliver metal to a plurality of molds, and a traveling car or carriage supporting and carrying said runners, together with means whereby the car or carriage may be moved in unison with the-casting ladle, substantially as described.

3. In metal casting apparatus, the combination with a casting ladle of the bottompour type, and a crane trolley from which the ladle is suspended, of distributing troughs or runners arranged below the nozzle of the ladle, and a car or carriage having a cranearm which supports and carries the runners, said car or carriage and the trolley having cooperating means whereby the car or carriage may be moved in unison with the crane trolley and ladle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN C. CROMWELL. 

